OSM{Memphis}

Argh, I have to be quick.

October 8--Memphis went to Rice, and they lost 28-6. Maybe they'll appreciate me omitting the details?

October 15--East Carolina came to Memphis and quickly found themselves trailing 10-0 after their quarterback Dominque Davis fumbled and Memphis recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Davis bounced back, though, going 28-37 for 307 yards and three touchdowns plus a rushing touchdown as East Carolina took control in the second half and won 35-17.

October 22--Memphis went down to New Orleans to face Tulane, and things started well for them. They led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 14-10 at the half. Tulane took a 17-14 lead early in the third quarter, but then Memphis's Bobby McCain returned and interception 79 yards for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, and then the PAT after Taylor Reed's 1-yard rushing touchdown four minutes later was missed, but still, these 12 points plus a fourth quarter field goal were enough to get a nice 33-17 conference victory for the Tigers. Congratulations!

GGSM{LA-Monroe}

Again, more shame on me. It wasn't simply that I lagged behind this time. No! I ignored wins by both beshamemasked teams!

October 8--Arkansas State came to Monroe with a winning record, but this didn't stop the Warhawks. Perhaps they were nervous on their opening drive, which resulted in a fumble. Eleven plays later, Arkansas State's Frankie Jackson punched it in for a 3-yard touchdown. However, LA-Monroe's Luther Ambrose returned the following kickoff 51 yards, and then on the next play, Cody Wells threw at 41-yard touchdown to Brent Leonard to tie the game. In the second quarter, LA-Monroe turned two Arkansas State turnovers into two field goals, but then they gave one back after an interception of their own at the end of the first half. Still, they lead 13-10 going into the locker room. The third quarter started by trading punts, but then Arkansas State's Aaron Munoz blocked one of those punts and returned 25 yards for a touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, Arkansas State then followed an interception with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Frampton, who broke his own school record with 13 catches. LA-Monroe tried valiantly to rally. After an interception, they drove down the field and Brent Leonard caught another touchdown pass, but the failed two-point conversion left them trailing 24-19. Arkansas State promptly threw another interception with 2:02 left. LA-Monroe got a couple of quick passes, but on 4th and 17 at the Arkansas State 34, a pass fell incomplete with 18 seconds left to seal the loss.

October 15--LA-Monroe next took a trip to Troy, who have been Sun Belt co-champs each year since 2006 but who are struggling this year. After a scoreless first quarter, each team got a field goal in the second quarter. Troy started the second half with a touchdown, but then LA-Monroe kicked it into gear. The followed with a touchdown of their own, but a failed two-point conversion left them trailing 10-9. After holding Troy to three plays that lost 7 yards and a punt, LA-Monroe's next drive also resulted in a touchdown with a failed two-point conversion. Troy fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and LA-Monroe capitalized two plays later with a touchdown and after kicking the extra point, they took a 22-10 lead into the fourth quarter. A touchdown and a safety quickly followed, and then after an interception, LA-Monroe sealed their victory with a six-and-a-half minute touchdown, and the Warhawks held on for an impressive 38-10 victory. Congratulations!

OSM{Memphis}

September 17--OSM{Memphis} 27, Austin Peay 6. Memphis hosted I-AA Austin Peay, and after a scoreless first quarter, they went on to win 27-6.

September 24--SMU 42, OSM{Memphis} 0. It's really tough to win when you are outrushed 162 yards to -14. SMU's Zack Line had three 1-yard TD runs in the first half. And then SMU QB J.J. McDermott threw for 357 yards compared to Memphis's Taylor Reed's 153.

October 1--MTSU 38, OSM{Memphis} 31. Oh no! Memphis jumped out to a 17-0 lead midway through the second quarter. MTSU crawled their way back thanks to two TD catches by Malcolm Beyah, and the fourth quarter tied 17-17. That's when the fun began. Reed led the Tigers on an 11-play, 71-yard TD drive capped by a 2-yard TD run from Billy Foster. However, two plays later, MTSU's D.D. Kyles scampered 59 yards for a tying touchdown. MTSU then took the for the first time after an 8-play drive ended when MTSU's William Pratcher rushed for 11 yards and then fumbled the ball forward where his teammate Malcolm Beyah recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. Is Memphis going to take this? No! Taylor Reed catches fire, completing five straight passes for 79 yards, culminating with a 23-yard game tying TD to Keiwone Malone. But, this left MTSU 1:41 left on the clock. Now, an ill-timed lateral and an illegal block on the kickoff put the Blue Raiders 94 yards away, and then a rush for no gain and a fumble had Memphis hoping for overtime. But then a 14-yard rush, a 17-yard pass, and a 23-yard pass set up Logan Kilgore's 33-yard TD pass to Anthony Amos with just 11 seconds left to give MTSU their first win of the season.

Up next: 1-3 Rice. Memphis is 114th in both points scored and points allowed. Rice is 96th and 117th. Woohoo!

GGSM{LA-Monroe}

Argh, I'm a couple of weeks behind again. Let's do the lightning round.

September 17--TCU 38, GGSM{LA-Monroe} 17. The Warhawks weren't initmitated coming into the under renovation Amon Carter Stadium, home of the 23rd ranked TCU. LA-Monroe kicked a field goal on their opening drive. They quickly gave up a 68-yard touchdown pass, but then they bounced back with a touchdown of their own, a 22-yard pass from Kolton Browning to Brent Leonard, to regain the lead 10-7. Again they couldn't hold that lead, when TCU scored on their next drive, but once more, Browning led the Warhawks down the field, capping the drive with a 37-yard touchdown strike to Tavarese Maye. Thus, LA-Monroe led 17-14 at the end of the first quarter. Not too shabby. TCU took the lead again with a second quarter, but in the final minute of the first half, LA-Monroe's R.J. Young sacked TCU QB Casey Pachall and recovered his fumble at the TCU 32 with 10 seconds left. Unfortunately, LA-Monroe could only miss a 43-yard field goal with this. TCU then returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown, and never looked back.

September 24--Iowa 45, GGSM{LA-Monroe} 17. LA-Monroe fell victim to Kinnick Stadium's pink visitors locker room and let Iowa jump out to a 28-3 lead at halftime. The Warhawks had a week off to prepare for their next opponent: Arkansas State.